1 Year Of Beginning

Zhang Liang walked out of the mansion after he had finished talking with the director. His eyes caught Secretary He looking in his direction and tried to say something.

"What do you want to say, He Lian?" Zhang Liang asked.

He Lian was Secretary He's full name. He Lian looked at Zhang Liang with a bitter smile on his lips. "You didn't seem to act like yourself just now, President."

"There's someone who leaked the news last night," Zhang Liang replied. "It's better if they see me alone for today and not bother Feng Mian."

When he went to the restaurant yesterday, someone leaked on social media that they saw him with a woman. Even though there was no picture attached, it still caused some rift. A few reporters were camping around his mansion and his company. If they caught sight of Feng Mian, they would surely do their work.

He might have already signed a contract with Feng Mian to have her act as his wife, but it didn't mean he wanted to deal with the reporter now. It was already enough that they caught wind earlier than his intention.

Taking out his phone, Zhang Liang dialed his sister. "Xiao Ai."

"What is it, Liang Ge? It's still too early."

"I want you to post our dinner on your social media. Remember to exclude Feng Mian."

On her bed, Zhang Ai g.r.o.a.n.e.d. She still wanted to sleep longer, but she knew that her brother wouldn't let her off if she didn't do anything. "Fine."

"Good."

He Lian shook his head. He could guess that Zhang Liang wanted them to think that the one who posted only saw him with his sister. In his heart, he wondered why Zhang Liang suddenly wanted to get married just to get away from Zhang Yi's nagging.

Having a girlfriend was actually already enough, right?

Not wanting to pry deeper into his boss's thoughts and life, He Lian decided to just focus on his work.

…

Inside the house, Feng Mian didn't know what to do. There was barely anything to do because she didn't really have any work. Zhang Liang also forbade her from going out to work, so she needed something to do while staying at home.

'I never know that having nothing to do is also very painful.'

All this time, she always had so many things to do that she hoped that she could have 30 hours each day to finish them all. But now, she just found out that having nothing to do is also a different kind of torture. She wanted to get out yet at the same time, she knew that the butler would stop her.

Sighing to herself, Feng Mian propped her chin on the table. Her slender fingers tapped on the table rhythmically.

"Butler Lou."

"Yes?"

"Can I trouble you to buy some painting equipment?" Feng Mian asked.

Butler Lou blinked his eyes but then he nodded. Zhang Liang instructed him to do anything Feng Mian wanted to do except allowing her to work and get out of the mansion.

"Then please buy these."

Feng Mian picked a paper and began to write the equipment and paints she needed. She used to learn designing back in her university. However, the equipment was always so expensive, so she had no other choice but to use the one the university provided. There were only limited colors and brush there, but it was enough to allow her to graduate.

Afterwards, she hadn't had the chance to resume painting ever again. After all, she didn't have the money to buy the paints and all.

Butler Lou looked at the list with surprise. "Please wait a moment, Madam."

"Yes."

It didn't take half an hour for Butler Lou to finish buying everything Feng Mian wrote down on the paper. His efficiency shook Feng Mian greatly, but she knew that it must be something normal for him.

"Where should I put them all, Madam?"

"Is there any empty room that's facing the west with a window?"

"Yes, there is."

Butler Lou guided Feng Mian to the room. She still found the large place to be uncomfortable. There seemed to be so many routes in this mansion. Feng Mian was not even sure which way she needed to take to return back to her room.

After they arrived in the room, Feng Mian nodded satisfied. The room might not be decorated, but it was clean.

"Is there anything else you need, Madam?"

"Can you bring me a chair?"

"Certainly."

Feng Mian arranged the canvas and paints while Butler Lou brought her the chair. Before long, she had finished the arrangement and sat down in front of the canvas. A small smile was formed on her lips.

How long since the last time she could hold the paint and brush like this? It was so long that she couldn't remember it herself.

Swish!

Her finger began to move as she started to make the exact same window as the room. The color was not finished yet, as she added the red shade as if it was sunset. The only thing she left empty was the view inside the window as she was waiting for something different. It took her a few hours before the window frame was perfectly painted in her brush.

Knock! Knock!

"Yes, come in."

"Madam, it's already past 1, you need to eat lunch," Butler Lou walked in and reminded. His eyes landed on the painting as a gasp sounded out. If one didn't know better, they would not think of that window on the canvas to be a painting but rather a real window and wall.

Feng Mian's eyes widened. "Ah, it seems I'm too absorbed in painting that I forget."

"It's very beautiful, Madam."

"Is it? Thank you." Feng Mian's smile widened. Having someone else praised her work always felt good.

Butler Lou nodded. He looked at the painting for a moment before he decided to speak. "Pardon me for saying this, but with this beautiful skill and paint, why didn't Madam become a painter?"

Upon hearing that, Feng Mian's smile dropped. Butler Lou's heart jumped. He felt that he had made a mistake and opened his mouth, trying to change the subject.

"If Madam didn't want to talk…"

"It's fine," Feng Mian cut him off. She smiled while her finger touched the empty window first. "You see, when you're young, you always thought that it's possible to become anything you want. Be it astronaut, president, sailor, just name it and a child will just say that they want to be one when they grow up.

But reality is not that kind. When you grow up, you'll realize that each profession always has harsh requirements. And even if you manage to become good in your work, how many people will be able to get the job they want? There's always something else behind the screen and even something simple on the outside is layered."

Feng Mian sighed. "Sometimes, the price is just something you can't afford. Because of that, living the way you want is just a childish dream. In order to live, one will have to do a job that they might not want."

Butler Lou knew that Feng Mian was talking in roundabout ways. He knew that Feng Mian's skill must be more than enough for her to become a painter. However, even if she's good, she needed connections and also ways to promote herself. Sometimes, those things couldn't be earned without paying a heavy price. And for women, it might be their body.

It was also possible for Feng Mian to offend someone else who pull string from behind. After all, he was not sure what Feng Mian had experienced all this time.

"Madam, I'm sorry, I…"

Feng Mian smiled. "It's nothing worth apologizing for. What's the menu for lunch?"

"Ah, it's fried rice with…"

As Butler Lou listed out the menu, Feng Mian followed him to the dining room. Her eyes landed on the painting once more as a sad smile emerged on her lips. How much she wanted to become a painter was something other people would never be able to understand. It was a dream.

But dreams and reality are different. She had to abandon it because she knew, it would be impossible.